Adams - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ struggles haven’t shaken Kevyn Adams’ belief: ‘Not going to panic’

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams entered the KeyBank Center media room, walked to the podium and started talking before he fielded a question.

Normally, GMs don’t hold a 23-minute news conference on a Friday morning in early December. But Adams’ Sabres, having dropped five straight games (0-3-2), including an embarrassing loss Tuesday in which they blew a four-goal lead and lost for the second time in franchise history, are in rough shape.

Entering ... Read the full article

Injured captain Rasmus Dahlin misses game; Sabres make roster move

BUFFALO – The good news for the Sabres is captain Rasmus Dahlin, their top defenseman, shouldn’t be sidelined for long after leaving Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche with back spasms.

“I think that should be short-term, but you never know,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said prior to Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets in KeyBank Center.

Dahlin, who averages a team-high 24 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time per game, missed ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, anything, including trades, could be on table to improve

BUFFALO – Hours after one of the most embarrassing defeats in franchise history, the Sabres canceled practice and likely relived the horrors of Tuesday’s stunning 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in video sessions.

It was no doubt painful viewing.

The Sabres had fallen into a rut before they blew a four-goal lead and lost for just the second time in their 55-year history.

Two months into the season and barely a week removed from ... Read the full article

Avalanche’s Casey Mittelstadt grateful for trade, fond of time with Sabres

BUFFALO – Former Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt knew a trade could be coming last season.

His emergence as a consistent point producer put him in line to sign a hefty new contract following the campaign. It also transformed him into perhaps general manager Kevyn Adams’ greatest asset as he scoured the market to improve the Sabres.

“I saw the writing on the wall a little bit,” Mittelstadt said Tuesday prior to his first game against ... Read the full article

Devon Levi happy to compete with UPL, sharp as Sabres beat Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – For years, Sabres goalie Devon Levi has been a workhorse, starting game after game.

At Northeastern, Levi played 89 percent of the Huskies’ games. After turning pro late in 2022-23, he started seven of the Sabres’ final eight contests and the first four last season before suffering an injury.

When Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seized the No. 1 job late last fall, the Sabres assigned Levi to the Rochester Americans to play regularly, occasionally recalling ... Read the full article

After signing contract, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs begins fight for ice time

BUFFALO – As training camp approached and Peyton Krebs remained unsigned, he finally had enough. The Sabres center told his agent he needed a new contract.

“I was just kind of taking my advice from my agent and what I needed to do, and … I just kind of said, ‘I’m done with this. Get something done. I want to be there for camp,’” Krebs said following Friday’s session of training camp.

Krebs, 23, couldn’t ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff begins challenging Sabres to raise standards: ‘Everyone brought it’

BUFFALO – Right away, coach Lindy Ruff stopped the drill. The Sabres had gone offside, and even in the first session of training camp, that’s a no-no.

So Ruff told his players to get it right and gathered them for a quick chat. Later in Wednesday’s practice, he called for more puck support and halted another drill.

General manager Kevyn Adams and players have been preaching accountability, and on the first day of his second ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Dahlin injured; Matt Savoie trade filled big need

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s first practice under new coach Lindy Ruff lasted just a few minutes.

Dahlin, 24, departed Wednesday’s opening session of training camp early after suffering what Ruff called a “mid-range” injury.

Ruff had no update on Dahlin, who will be examined.

“It’s just one of those things he was passing the puck and something happened,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “So (as a) precaution, (we) got him off.”... Read the full article

After signing contract, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs might have to battle for spot

BUFFALO – When the Sabres overhauled their third and fourth lines during the offseason by trading for Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn and signing two free agents, center Peyton Krebs’ future here became uncertain.

Krebs, the Sabres’ last restricted free agent, is officially back for his fourth season, having signed a two-year, $2.9 million contract on Tuesday. But as training camp opens today with the first on-ice sessions in KeyBank Center, it’s unclear where he ... Read the full article

Former Sabres quickly found work as free agents this summer

In past offseasons, it sometimes took former Buffalo Sabres time to find work. Some went overseas or returned to the minors. Some never played in the NHL again.

But earlier this month, seven players from the 2023-24 squad quickly signed NHL contracts as free agents. Some updates are below.

– Winger Jeff Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Sabres, of course, bought out the final three seasons of Skinner’s ... Read the full article